BSKE ENDS. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia grants media interviews at the Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila after the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) ended at 3 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 30, 2023). Garcia highlighted the necessity of extending the next BSKE up to 5 p.m., citing the 68 million regular voters and 24 million voters for SK who would troop to precincts on election day. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday called on the Congress to study extending the voting hours for the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia highlighted the necessity of an extension, citing the 68 million regular voters and 24 million voters for SK who would troop to precincts on election day.
“Hindi namin magawa yong tinatawag na extension kasi wala namang basis to extend (We cannot do the so-called extension now because there’s no basis to extend),” he said in a press conference.
“Come to think of it, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. may not be enough especially if you are going to allow voters from the SK of 24 million and from the regular voters 68 million. Ganoon karami ang magpupunta sa bawat presinto tapos ang botohan mo hanggang alas siyete alas tres lang (That's the number of voters who are going to troop to their precincts to vote yet your poll is only open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.),” he added.
Garcia said voting in some precincts in the Bangsamoro region went on past 3 p.m. but only to accommodate those who have already queued within the last minute of the official voting hours or those within the 30-meter radius from the polling place.
Meanwhile, Garcia said there are also areas in the Bangsamoro that were not able to open at 7 a.m. to allow tensions in the area to ease.
“Doon iyon sa area na hindi naman gaanong karami ng Bangsamoro sapagkat based sa determination ng mga local Comelec natin at security forces, kapag pinuwersa nating dalhin agad ang gamit at masimulan, magkakagulo (Those are located in the Bangsamoro, they're not that many, but our local Comelec and security forces think that if we pushed through with opening at 7 a.m. commotion would ensue),” he said.
“Mayroon talaga doon na ang plano ay guluhin lamang muna para ‘di na magkatuluyan, so we will not give them the opportunity (There are those who were planning to sabotage the election at the beginning, so we will not give them the opportunity),” he added.
As of press time, the Comelec has yet to determine the voter turnout, which the poll body hopes could reach at least 70 to 75 percent.
‘More staff, budget needed’
Garcia aired Comelec’s side on the issue of long queues experienced by senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who availed of the Emergency-Accessible Polling Places (E-APP).
“Kaya hindi sila nakaboto hindi dahil tumaas sila sa 2nd or 3rd floor. Kaya hindi kaagad nakaboto ay dahil kinuha pa ung balota sa 2nd at 3rd floor (The reason why they were not able to vote right away is not because they had to climb but because their ballots had to be brought from upstairs),” he said.
“Iyon ang nire-request namin sa DBM (Department of Budget and Management) noon pa, sana bigyan at damihan ‘yong support staff ng principal kasi iyon ang taga-takbo sa 2nd at 3rd floor. Doon lang nagkaroon ng bottleneck (That is what we have been requesting from the DBM for so long-- additional support staff for principals because they are the ones who were supposed to bring the ballots from the upper floors. That's where the bottlenecks are),” he added.
Elections watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) said it observed “long queues in E-APPs which prompted some PWDs and older persons to vote in less accessible polling places located on upper floors.”
At the Tondo High School, older persons and PWDs opted to vote in polling precincts on the 2nd and 4th floors due to disorganized queues and limited assistance at the E-APP.
At the Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School, only one room was designated for senior citizens, leading to long queues, and some senior citizens who arrived early could not vote as of 9 a.m.
At the Lakandula High School, one polling place was designated for older persons and persons with disabilities who are unable to climb to higher floors.
Older persons and PWDs, who are able, still voted on the 2nd to 4th floors.
At the Bagong Barangay Elementary School, LENTE said one regular polling place had a label that said it had an express lane. However, according to the electoral board, there will be no priority lane for older persons.
“In the same school, the EAPP was located on the first floor but served only one barangay. Elderly voters from other barangays had to climb to the upper floors,” it added. (PNA)
